Pfizer to set up global drug development centre in Chennai

Chennai: Pharma major Pfizer on Wednesday launched a global drug research and development centre at the IIT-Madras Research Park in Chennai at an initial investment of around $20 million (Rs 150 crore). The 61,000 sq ft research and technology center will be a part of a network of 12 global centers worldwide and is the first and only one at present being set up by Pfizer in

Asia

. Pfizer said the center will develop and support products in global markets and Pfizer’s manufacturing centers worldwide. The work undertaken at the centre will include development of both active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished dosage forms (FDFs) of products such as complex/value-added formulations, device-combination products, lyophilized injections, and others. The facility hosts around 10 labs and 120+ workstations and is set to employ over 250 scientists and professionals from a range of disciplines including formulation scientists, pharmacists, analytical scientists, life science specialists, chemical engineers, data scientists, and others. Pfizer did not disclose if work on its recent innovation around Covid-19 treatments will be undertaken at this centre.